Visit The *EVEN NEWER* Barrow-Downs Photo Page |
08-27-2021, 08:27 PM | #1 | |
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 87
|
Wrongly remembered. The blurry lines between film and book headcanon.
After some time of absence on my part in the depths of the barrow downs and a re-watch and a re-read of the trilogy I'd like to return and discuss a minor thing. I find it interesting because, somehow, the film interpretation managed to color my reading of the book for quite some time on that detail. I would like to address something that I noticed while re-reading Fellowship. And I would love to hear your thoughts on this and if there are any similar things that you remember in favor of the film's interpretation. Im talking about the interaction between Frodo an Bilbo after they meet again at the party in Rivendell.
Quote:
Now I think that this is not what really happens. When I try to ignore evil-face film Bilbo, who manages to jump-scare Frodo and the audience alike, and focus on the way the passage is written, it is much more plausible to me that it really isn't about how much the Ring has changed Bilbo to this day, but about how it already changed Frodo in a horrible way: I would suggests that Frodo's vision of this little wrinkled creature is a Ring-induced hallucination or a change of Frodo's perspective, so to speak and not something that is happening to Bilbo in a physical sense. Bilbo's undue insistance on seeing 'It' surely is caused by the aforementioned lasting effects of the Ring. He then 'puts out his hand'. But he actually doesn't try to grab it to take it away from Frodo like he does in the movie! At least the text doesn't say so. This is a much more passive affront. Yet it is still enough to trigger something inside of Frodo ('a shadow seemed to have fallen between them') that turns his beloved uncle into a 'little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands.' Up to a point where he even desires to strike him, simply because this little creature dared to demand to touch the Ring. This makes Bilbo's reaction harrowing: '‘I understand now,’ he said. ‘Put it away! I am sorry: sorry you have come in for this burden; sorry about everything.[...]' Upon seeing Frodo's reaction he is able to self-reflect back and understand where his own desires for the Ring came from and why it was so hard to depart from It when he left the shire. This makes Bilbo, understandibly, feel guilty and he apologizes to Frodo. I understand why the movie interprets this text passage in the way it did. And it is a great scene! It is much harder to actually show how Frodo feels inside. Although they could have done something visual that indicates that we aren't looking at reality per se. Ultimately, the scene does get the broader point across, but loses some of the nuance, I think. |
|
08-27-2021, 09:42 PM | #2 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 3,448
|
That scene along with some others fall under the umbrella of works in book not on screen. They were almost forced to use an actual change on Bilbo otherwise it doesn’t work.
I think one that works here is Saruman’s pits. In the movie they’re just too big and deep probably but it’s all I can picture.
__________________
Morsul the Resurrected |
08-31-2021, 08:33 AM | #3 | |
Loremaster of Annúminas
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,321
|
Quote:
__________________
The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it. |
|
09-11-2021, 12:56 PM | #4 | |||
Laconic Loreman
|
It's probably been going on about a year since I did the same thing...read the books again, re-watched the films, and this was a scene/moment in the book that caught my attention as well.
I suppose there needed to be the decision to either film this moment or not. And once making the decision to film it, I'm glad they did, even though as you said PJ portrayed it differently. I was writing my opinions of this on Facebook, so after tracking that post down, I'll just copy and paste to add here: Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
Fenris Penguin
|
|||
09-17-2021, 07:39 PM | #5 | ||
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 87
|
Quote:
I'm sure you are right about Frodo and his important feeling of pity towards Gollum, an actual little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands. What gets me about this description in regards to Bilbo is that it could be, at face value, not so far off from reality in the sense that Bilbo is pretty old and probably also pretty wrinkled. His face might be kind of sunken and his hands boney from weight loss due to his age. However, those aren't the kind of things you would view as despicable, if you even notice them, when you look at your beloved parents or grandparents! It's like the Ring took away all the love Frodo had for that old Hobbit. Quote:
PJ's movies have their problems, even if you don't look at them as adaptations of the literature. But the technical realization, the attention to detail and the use of every trick from the book of a filmmaker marks the end of an era. From the practical effects, miniatures, sets, real locations, costumes, props, make-up etc. I don't think we will see anything like it again in the foreseeable future. Movies just aren't made like this anymore. In addition, PJ and his team, even if you don't share it, had a vision and they implemented it. The films are not the primary product of endless producer board meetings, re-edits, audience test screenings and marked research divisions, and it shows. Although it is entirely possible that I'm finally becoming the grumpy man that is blinded by nostalgia and the good ol' days. Last edited by Leaf; 09-17-2021 at 08:18 PM. |
||
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|